$28 hacking software to break into webcams spreads in China

The notion of “the privacy of your own home” may be becoming a thing of the past. Cheap software has reportedly spread in the Chinese Internet, allowing web-connected cameras and home surveillance devices to be infiltrated.

Virtually anyone can buy the hacking software for just 188 yuan ($28) with an attached list of IP addresses and a manual on how to use the malware, China’s CCTV broadcaster reported after conducting an investigation. The malware scans for internet-connected webcams, giving its buyers easy access to them.

Hijacked webcams have long been a cybersecurity concern, particularly after analysts concluded that massive DDoS attacks in October 2016 were the result of smart devices – including webcams and thermostats – being infiltrated to carry out the attacks. More than 80 popular websites were affected, including PayPal, Reddit, Amazon, Spotify, and Twitter.

Webcam hacking even seems to be cause for concern for Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.